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1930 Thirtieth anniversary of the Philadelphia Latvian Baptist Church A photographic montage, created by Andrew R. Dravneek (Andrejs Dravnieks) of New York, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Philadelphia Latvian Baptist Church. The congregation, which grew from the merger of two Latvian Baptist groups active in Philadelphia since the 1890s, was formally founded in 1900. The top two and the bottom three rows consist of images from the history of America and Philadelphia, according to a report by Dravneek in the July 15, 1930, issue of Kristīgā Balss, a Baptist periodical published in Latvia. The third and fourth rows consist of images from the Philadelphia congregation. In the middle of the third row is the Rev. John Daugmanis; directly below his portrait is an image of Deacon Peter Gertz next to the Rev. Daugmanis.
ca. 1924 Latvian Baptists in Philadelphia The Rev. Peter and Valia Buschman (Pēteris and Valija Bušmanis) pose for a photograph, ca. 1924. Valia was Peter's second wife. They had one daughter, Camille.
1922 Lavallette, New Jersey A group of unidentified men and women pose for a snapshot on the beach in Lavallette, New Jersey. The man on the right possibly is the Rev. Pēteris Bušmanis. The seated woman on the right possibly is his second wife, Valija Bušmanis. Lavallette was a popular vacation spot for Latvian immigrants and their descendants, including the Baptists.
1914 Latvian Baptists The Rīga-based Latvian Baptist periodical Avots carried this obituary for the Rev. Jānis Neibuks (1849-1914) in its March 19, 1914, issue. Neibuks had served the First Lettish Baptist Church in Philadelphia from 1904-1909, but then moved to Boston, where he was pastor until 1913. Illness forced him to step away from the ministry, but after recuperating he began mission work through the Chicago congregation. Niebuks also served the small Latvian Baptist congregation in Sussex County, Virginia. Before his death, he had returned to Philadelphia to once again lead the congregation there. The obituary was written by the Rev. Jānis Kvietiņš, then pastor of the Baptist congregation in New York.
ca. 1920 Philadelphia Latvian Baptist Youth Society To remind members to attend, the Philadelphia Latvian Baptist Youth Society sent them notices of meetings such as this one. The text stressed the importance of participation. Photograph by Andris Straumanis.
1917 Latvian Baptists in West Philadelphia Martin Treyan's military draft registration card, submitted June 5, 1917, shows his place of birth as Sakkenhausen, Russia, which today is Saka Parish in Latvia. At the time he registered, Treyan was employed as a carpenter in Chester, Pennsylvania.
ca. 1910 Library Rules for use of the Philadelphia Latvian Baptist Youth Society's library, housed in the First Lettish Baptist Church, 855 Preston Street. Patrons could check out up to two books at a time and had to return them in two weeks' time. Photographed by Andris Straumanis.
ca. 1920 Bucks County Latvian Baptist men horsing around Latvian Baptists in Bucks County A group of Latvian Baptists pose for a photographer as they display a variation on a human pyramid. The image likely was made in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the early 1920s.
ca. 1900 Latvian Baptists in Philadelphia The Kurmin (Kurmiņš) family poses for a portrait, likely while still living in Russia. Pictured are Bertha, Tillie (Otilija), mother Leotte (née Petelowetz), father David, Robert, and Adolph.
1934 Immigrant press Kristīgs Draugs was one of several periodicals produced by Latvian Baptist immigrants in Brazil. The monthly, which included the supplements Rīta Rasa and Jaunais Līdumnieks, began publication at Palma in 1931 under the editorship of Jānis Inķis. The publication reached readers in the United States and Latvia, among other locations. Pictured is the cover of the January 1934 issue.